AN investigation has been launched after a bus caught fire today in a Hampshire village.

The single decker belonging to Xelabus was travelling along Kings Copse Avenue in Hedge End when the blaze took hold at 11.30am.

Passengers had already been dropped off and the driver tried to tackle the flames with a dry powder extinguisher before calling emergency services to extra help.

Crews from Hightown fire station arrived and used a breathing apparatus and two hose reels to put out the blaze and clear up spilled diesel.

The road was closed for nearly an hour while they worked.

The fire is believed to have started in the vehicle’s engine compartment and eventually spread to the rear of the bus.